Program preselecting radio control unit



Dec. 28, 1943. F. H. OWENS 2,337,568

PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT Filed June 10, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 I no m In I00 ll I2 I 6 IPH0-0 rez 1 "J: v gig E \e N INVENTOR. N N Ereemazz l7. alt 816,8,

BY 2 W Dec. 28, 1943. H OWENS 2,337,568

PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT E'eeman 11. 011 011 INVENTOR.

M ATTflBNEl/I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 MNN F. H. OWENS Filed June 10, 1941 PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT 'I/IIIl/IIA'IIJ IIIIIIIIIflII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III Dec. 28, 1943.

Ereeznan B. mums,

INVENTOR.

Dec. 28, 1943. F. OWENS 2,337,568

PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT Filed June 10, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII'II, I

I NVENT OR. Freemmz H. Wrens,

Dec. 28, 1943. wE s 2,337,568

PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT Filed June 10, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll tlllll'llllrlIIIIll!I!llllllllllIllllllltII/l/I/ 1 5 i v 4 I 9 I 5, F I I I g z 4 I 4 4 4 4 INVENTOR.

Filed June 10, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Human H. wens, INVENTOR.

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Dec. 28, 1943. OWENS 2,337,568

PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT Filed June 10, 1941 a Sheets-Sheet 7 n m u my Emezozm r g u 995m m an m N E [I TC Tmv TAM e m W @N iw f jfw WW %a& i W2 m 3 m n F) M M g fi m w m w fi w m 8v Ms QMWW AW m w m N fl l m I w J J J 9 k J g A 7J\% A q H1 Dec. 28, 1943.

F. H. OWEN$ PROGRAM PRESELECTING RADIO CONTROL UNIT 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 10, 1941 Freeman H. 0m,

INV EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 1943 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE raoaaam raasmc'rmo aanro common UNIT Freeman H. Owens, New York. N. Y. Application June 10, 1941, Serial No. 897,504

9' Claims. (Cl. 250-20) The invention here disclosed relates to apparatus for preselecting desired programs or sequences and for controlling the mechanism necessary for effecting the sequences of events so selected.

Particular objects of the invention are to pro-' vide a device of the character mentioned, which will be of a simple inexpensive structure, compactly put together, small in size and made up of, parts readily manufactured and easy to assemble.

Other special objects are to provide a control unit of the character specified, which may be readily connected and used with different radio receiverand phonograph units and the like, and the operation of which will be readily understandable to those accustomed to such'devices.

A further important object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character mentioned,

simple and practical means for recording the programs actually selected by the instrument.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide apparatus of the character specified, which will be of rugged sturdy design, not liable to get out of order and not subject to servicing needs or the like.

Other important objects of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds. 1

The novel features and combinations through which the purposesof the invention are attained are 'set forth in the following specification. broadly covered in the claims and illustrated by way of practical example. in the accompanying drawings. It is realized however, that actual physical structure may be modified and changed in various ways all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention. The illustration therefore ist'o be considered primarily for purposes of disclosure and not by way of limitation,

. the scope of the invention being as hereafter broadly defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a control unit embodying the invention, designed for twenty hour service. automatic program selection for six different radio' stations and phonograph, under preselected volume, also manual or arbitrary station and phonograph selection and arbitrary tuning to other radio stations, at desired volume.

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical and transverse sectional view as on substantially the line 2-4 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view substantially as on line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional detail of the timing "new view as shaft mechanism on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional detail of one of the electromagnetic switch mechanisms, on substantially the line H of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a broken partfsectional view on sub- I stantially the plane or line H of Fig. 5.

Fig. '1 is a broken sectional detail of the manual interlock mechanism on substantially the plane of line 1-1 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 8 is a broken sectional detail of switch and volume'control mechanism on substantially the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 3. A

vertical sec- Fig. 9 is a broken longitudinal our-substantially the plane of line I-lofFlsJ.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail of the switch rocker mechanism substantially on line ll-ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 ha broken vertical sectional view of the recorder, located to the rear of the time shaft mechanism shown in horizontal section in Fig. 4, this view Fig; 11, being taken substantially as on line il-ii of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a broken part sectional view of the recorder mechanism as viewed in the direction of the arrow l2, Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a broken part sectional detail view .of

the recorder mechanism. as on substantially'the plane 01' line lI-ll, Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a broken sectional detail of the record 1 roll gearing as on substantially the plane of line "-44 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a broken plan of a typical record strip.

Fig. 16 is a general wiringdiagram.

Fig. 1'! is a diagram in somewhat more detail to show connections through the station selection time switches.

Fig. 18 is abroken front elevation of the magnetically operated switch actuating and latching means.

Fig. 19 is a P rspective view of the latch for holding the power switch closed.

Fig. 20 is a part sectional perspective view of the'universal latch bar.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of one of the switch closing push levers.

In the form or the invention here disclosed,

selection of the stations or thephonograph, to be brought in at desired broadcast periods, is effected by picking out keys or levers representing time or broadcast periods, in a bank of such keys or levers, and setting them accordingly to diflerent radio station or phonograph positions.

In Fig. 1, the bank of station selecting time keys is indicated at, 20, and as this particular machine is designed for twenty hour operation, as from 6 oclock in the morning to 2 oclock at night, there are 80 such keys, four to each hour, for the present 15 minute broadcast periods.

To readily identify the different time keys, an hour scale 2!, is placed below the keys, broken up above, into 15 minute scales 22, in register with the individual keys.

At the ends of the bank of keys, the station and phonograph positions are indicated at 28, there being six radio station positions and one phonograph position shown.

While a single tuning mechanism may be employed and adjusted each time a change is made from one station to another, in the present disclosure, a separate tuner is provided for each station and adjusted each to a particularstation, so that such stations can then be brought in by simple switching operations.

Thus in the illustration, for the six stations, there are six tuning controls 24, each of which is set for a particular station and then left at that setting so as to bring in the station to which it is tuned by a simple circuit closing operation.

Similarly, while it is possible to provide a single volume control and adjust that to the desired sound level, as may be required, there is provided in the present disclosure, a volume control 25, for each tuned circuit, which can be set for the particular sound level desired for a particular station and then left at that setting, being cut into effect each time the station is brought in In Figs. 2 and 3, the bank of keys is shown as made up of a bank of cam-like discs strung together in side-by-side relation on a supporting rod 28, having reduced end portions 21, dropped into notches 28, 'in the upper ends of supporting brackets 28. Insulating spacers 38. at the ends of the bank hold the keys properly registered with the switch fingers which they operate.

The thus rotatably supported keys are shown in Fig. 2, as having operating handles 8|, projecting throughthe case 32, ofthe instrument and as having cam projections 83, to depress the arched spring contact fingers 34, of longitudinally extending bus bar strips 85, into engagement with terminal lugs 88, of the se ment strips 81.

The spring switch fingers 24, may be formed integrally with the longitudinal bus bars 35, in the nature of a comb construction, each constituting a multi le switch contact terminal for a particular radio station or phonograph, as so marked in Fig. 2, on the wiring lugs 88, at the ends of the same.

The segments 81, extend transversely at the back of and in register with the operating keys, one for each broadcast period, with switch lugs 88, of that-particular time in register with the switch fingers of the different radio'stations and phonograph. said segments having wiring terminals 38, at the ends of the same.

The station representing combs are shown mounted on the inner face of a curved sheet of insulating material 48, and the time segments on the back of such insulating base, with the lugs 88, projecting through to the inner face of the base, between the bus bars, in position to be engaged by the spring fingers. The curved insulating base is shown in Fig. 9, as supported at the ends by the same brackets 29, which support the key shaft 28.

Spring detents 4|, forming integral parts of a comb strip 42, engage in notches 43. to hold individual keys in positions to which they are adjusted.

The actual timing is provided in the disclosure by an electric clock 44, which is shown in the diagrammatic views, Figs. 16, 17, as connected directly across a standard supply circuit 45, and as operating a 15 minute or broadcast period cam 46, to control a lever 41, which at the end of each broadcast period closes the circuit at 48, through an electromagnet 49.

The magnet 48, is connected by wires 50, 5|, across the secondary 52, of a transformer, the primary 58, of which is connected by wiring 54, with the service circuit.

Interposed in the primary circuit 54, is a mercury switch 55, carried by a rocker 58, Figs. 9

and 10, pivoted on stud 51, and having a pin 58, entered in a notch 58, in the slide 68, which is guided at 61, over the stud 51, and at 82, over a reduced portion 58, of a time shaft 84.

The core 65, of solenoid magnet 48, is connected at 86, with the upper end of slide 80, so that said slide is lifted for each broadcast period.

The raising of slide 88, rocks the mercury switch 55, and to interrupt the primary circuit of the transformer, but before this circuit is broken, an impulse is sent out by reason of the closure of the secondary circuit at 48, along the wires 58-51 to a stationary contact ring 88, engaged by a brush 69, to carry current to one of two ring segments 10, 1|, the first of which.is connected at 12. with an outer ring 18, engaged by brush 14, to carry current to one of a surrounding series of time terminals 15, and the other of which is connected at 18, to a ring 11, Fig. 16, engaged by brush 18, to carry current to one of a second series of time contacts 18.

By breaking the set of eighty time contacts up into two circular series, a better spacing of the terminals is accomplished in a smaller diameter, taking up less space than would be required in a single circular series. The outer distributor rings 13, 11, are shown notched at 88, in line with the contact points 15 and 19, to aid proper registry of the brushes 14 and 18.

The distributor brushes 14 and 18, as shown in" Fig. 4, are mounted on opposite faces of an insulating carrier 8|, keyed at 82, on the timing shaft 84, the first to engage ring 13, and terminals 15, on an insulating support 83, and the other to engage the ring 11, and the wire terminals 18, on insulating support 82a.

The brush 89, of the changeover switch is carried by an insulating support 84, on sleeve 85, rotatably mounted on the same shaft and driven at halfshait speed by the attached gear 88, which as indicated in Fig. 6, is engaged by a pinion 81, operating on center 88, and having connected with it a gear 88, in mesh with a pinion 88, fixed to the ratchet M, which is keyed on the shaft at 2.

A spring pressed driving pawl 88, engages ratchet 9|, said pawl being mounted on a pivot pin 84, carried by a yoke 95, pivoted to rock on shaft 84.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 9, the pawl carrying stud 84,

projects through an arcuate slot 96, in

the shaft supporting wall 91, at the front and projects at the rear into a notch 98, in the magnet operated slide 60.

Step-by-step rotation is thereby imparted to the time shaft, an amount sufficient to carry the brushes 14 and 18, to the next contacts 15, 19, at the end of each 15 minute interval and these inasaasss 3 termittent movement at the end of a 12 hour period, through the hali time gearing are sufficient to carry the changeover brush 00, from one contact segment 10 or H, over onto the other segment, thus to switch circuit control over from one set of time contact points 10 or 10 to the other.

Retrograde movement or the timing shaft is prevented by a spring pressed holding pawl 00, shown in Fig. 6, as engaging ratchet I,

The time shaft makes one complete revolution each 12 hours, in 48 steps. Each section of the two part distributor switch therefore may have 48 distributor point as indicated at the top at 10, Fig. 16, providing the possibility for wiring for the entire 24 hour control. I

At the end of a 12 hour run, for instance, from 6 oclock in the morning to 6 oclock in the evening, the first .48 contacts may be in service, through the brush 09, connecting segment", with the current supply ring 60. At the end of the 12 hour period, that is, in the example 7 at 6 oclock in the afternoon, the brush 60, travelling at half shaft speed will shift over onto segment 1 I, as indicated in the broken lines, Fig. 16, thus to carry current over to the second distributor ring 11, and henceat-that time through brush 10, onto the 49th contact point of the series designated 10. The circuit then will be continued for the 15 minute intervals through the contacts of this second series up to the 80th contact, corresponding in time to 1:45 A. M.,' ending the 20 hour run (eighty 15 minute intervals) of the instrument. The eighty-first to the ninety-sixth contacts, if provided on this second series, will then simply serve as idle steps for the distributor brush 10 to ride on.

The contacts 10 and 10, are connected, in the order of sequence, by wires I00, Fig. 17, with the corresponding time switch segments 01, and the switch combs 00, representing stations, are connected by wires IOI, with switch closing magnets I02, which are connected by wiring I00, II, with secondary 02.

The magnets I02, have cores I04, Figs. 5, 6, '1 and 8, connected with levers I00, pivot ed on a supporting nod I00, and having portions I01, disposed to push the plungers I00, forwardly to bring the three pairs of switch contacts I00, IIO, III, into engagement a in Fig. 17, to close circuits respectively, by wiring II2, through station indicating lamps I I 0: by wiring II4, "to the pre set station tuners 24 and by wiring H0, to the volume controls 20.

The switch closing plungers I00, are locked in the projected switch closing position by a universal latch bar H6, pivoted to swing on the-supporting rod I00, and having an angled lower edge II1, operable as a'holding dog engageable with the bevelled annular shoulders IIO, of theplungers. This universal latch bar, as-indicated in Figs. and 8, 18 and 20 is pivoted to swing in front of the several plunger pushing levers I 05, so that the actuation of any one of said levers will lift the latch to release a previously pro- Jected plunger and permit the same to drop back into the retracted position indicated in Fig. 5, where the dogging edge of the latch will then be received in an idle annular groove H0, in the plunger.

Springs I20, return the individual switch levers I0 to retracted position and the cores of the switch magnets have extensions I2 I, at the front, carrying handles I22, exposed at the front of the case, by which such switches can be arbitrarily operated to bring in one of the pretuned stations at any time.

To prevent actuation of more than one switch. manual at a time. suitable interlock may be provided between the several switch knobs as indicated in Figs. 0 and 'I. which show such means as consisting of two overstanding slides I20, operating in guides I24, and having offset passages I20, therethrough receiving the reduced and bevel shouldered portions I20, of the handle shanks and which passages when aligned will permit switch operating movement of only one handle.

7 To control "on" and off conditions of the device.- there is provided what may be considered a power switch, shown in Figs. 2, 16 and 1'1, as made up of switch contacts I21, in the power circuit I20, of the radio and phonograph set and arranged to be closed by a plunger I20, actuated by a pusher extension I30. Fig. 20 on the end of the universal latch bar II 6. Thus each time the latch bar is raised through actuation of any one of the station magnets. I02, thev power switch .wlll be closed, if previously open, or reclosed,

if then in the closed condition.

To hold the power switch I21, closed, aspeclal latch IOI is shown engageable with shoulders H0 and H0, Figs. 8, 17 and 19, in the plunger I20, similar to the correspondingly numbered shoulders in the other switch plungers.

To release the latch III, and thus open the power circuit to shut off the set, an extra magnet I02, Fig. 2, is provided, for operating a lever I00, carrying said latch IOI.

Also shown in Fig. 2, ls'the extra bus bar comb I04, having switch fingers I 05, engageable with the "oil!" co'ntact lugs I30, at the bottom of switch segments 01, when switch keys 20, are in the upright "on" position. The electrical connections for the "ofl magnet are similar to those for magnets I02, as generally indicated in Fig. 1'7, and this magnet, like the station magnets has a handle I01, by which the set can be turned off at any time.

Details of the individual station tuners 24, are not illustrated, since these units will vary in accordance with the type of tuning used, inductance, capacity, or otherwise. For convenience, the preset/station tuning elements are indicated in the'diagrammatic view, Fig. 16, as variable condensers I00, and these tuning devices whatever their structure, may have individual dials or w the like, as indicated at I00, in Fig. 1.

For tuning the set arbitrarily, as to bring in other than the automatically selected stations at any time, there is provided in the illustration, a special circuit tuning device I40, Fig. 2, having its own tuning dial HI, and control I42. Simi larly, this arbitrary or master tuner has its own volume control at I40.

In order that the arbitrary tuning and volume control shall have no effect upon the automatic station selecting operation, both the arbitrary tuner I42, and volume control I43, are automatically returned to a neutral or ineilective position each time a station selection is made, by means of two' gear segments I44, I45, Figs. 2, 4, 9, pivoted on the timing shaft 04, above a laterally projecting step or shoulder I40, on the slide 80,

, will pick up the gear segments I, I", wherever they may have been left by adjustment of volume at I, and arbitrarily tuning at I42, to return these elements to the neutral or ineil'ective posi-s tions, where they will not interfere with automatic station selection and volume control.

The volume controls may be of resistance, potentiometer or other types and so are generally represented at I82, Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 16.

In Fig. 1, the volume control of the phonograph is designated I53, and the manual button for cutting in the phonograph at any time is indicated at I, the latter corresponding in general construction and operation to the station manuals I22.

To show the broadcast period time and to provide a means for setting the instrument to the existing time, the timing shaft 94, is shown as carrying a knob pointer III, on its front end, travelling over a broadcast time dial I58, which may be translucent and illuminated from within the casing by a lamp I51, Fig. 3.

A record of the use to which the instrument is put, is provided, in the illustration, by a tape I", Fig. 15, perforated at I", to receive one or more teeth of sprocket I60, F185. 10 and 11, attached to roll Ill, journalled on stud I92, carried by insulating case I 99, which is slipped into the back of the casing to bring the conically recessed toothed end I94, of the roll over the corresponding cone on the end of a drive bushing I95, rotatably engaged at I", on the rearwardly extending portion of shaft N. This drive bushing is shown provided with a ratchet I 91, engaged by a spring pressed pawl I", Figs. 4 and 13, on the rearward end of the same stud 94, which carries the time shaft driving pawl 92.

As a consequence, the sprocket IIII, will be turned to advance the record tape a distance I99, representing one broadcast period for each station selecting impulse. I

Station and phonograph designating electrodes I19 together with a common return connection or electrode I", are mounted in insulated relation in a yoke-like holder I12, pivoted on. a supporting shaft I19, and connected in the corresponding circuits, so that with each impulse.

there will be a discharge from the electrode representing the selected circuit, down through the tape as at I14, Fig. 15, to the tape carrying roll IN, and .by way of the latter back through the tape to the common return, producing the second indicating burn or perforation I18.

By providing an of! electrode I19, Fig. 13, a

. on the strip, for each movement of the latter,

by projecting the pivot pin 99, of the magnet slide, Figs. 11 and 13, through a slot I19, in the inner arm of the electrode carrying yoke I12.

To raise the electrodes when the record box is to be placed in or removed from the machine, a yoke lever I19, is shown pivoted on supporting. shaft I13, the outer arm serving as a handle and the inner arm extending in under the screw projections I 80, on the front of the electrode carrier. As the record tape need move only a slight distance for each broadcast period, a short length of tape will carry a long time record and this in turn means that the record mechanism may be a small unit with simple spooling mechanism for the tape. The latter is shown as consisting simply of two hollow spools Ill, I82, slipped overjournal projections I 92, I, on the opposite walls of the casing and having gear toothed ends I85. meshing with a pinion I89, journalled on a wall projection I91, between the spools. With this construction, the unwinding spool. through the intermediate pinion, drives the other, as a take-up spool.

The casing is shown made of two parts separable along the line I98, and removably held together by screws I89.

The lever I19, in addition to serving as a means for lifting the electrodes, is shown as dropping down over the front of the record case to hold it up against the yielding stop I90, with the toothed faces ISI, of the cone clutch at I 84, properly engaged for driving the record roll.

Fig. 16 shows at the right how the gang of three switches I09, IIII, III, for the phonograph control necessary circuits for that instrument and in this view, there, is also shown at I92. an electric outlet receptacle which is cut into circuit at the same time with the phonograph and into which a connector I93. such as for a coffee pot. toaster, water heater or the like, may be plugged. Thiseither in conjunction with or. without the phonograph, for operation of the phonograph may be avoided by simply leaving that machine without arecord inplace. a

The'service recorder may be locked in place, so that it may not be tampered with, thus to assure an accurate record of the use of the machine. As here shown, the record tape provides an easily readable record of the time the machine has been in service and the stations that have been listened to. The tape may carry a running time indication which then will show the actual times various stations were listened to, thus affording a gage of the comparative pflpularity of different programs. Special decoding or translating mechanism may be provided for totalizing or summarizing results shown on the record.

The phonograph and service outlet, or either, because of the wide possibility of uses, maybeconsidered as a general utility circuit.

. It is to be noted that when the machine has made the station selection, turned on the phonograph or accomplished some other utilitarian purpose, or turned oil the controls. according to the setting of the selecting time keys, current through the control parts will be 'cut of! through interruption of the primary circuit at the mercury switch II, and that for the next 15 minute or broadcast time interval, the only current consumed by the machine will be the slight amount taken by the time clock-that in the primary 53.

of the transformer being practically negligible, because of. the open circuit condition of the secondary. The mercury switch Il. may be of the slow return type, as indicated in Fig. 16, so as to prevent recurrence of the station selecting operations before the time cam has again broken the initial control circuit at 48.

The magnet for controlling the phonograph circuits is indicated only generally, at I94, Fig. 7, since the organization may be the same as that for the several station selecting switch magnets I02. It will be appreciated also that circuits outassmea correct time in any minute interval, there is provided in the illustration, a setting button I95, Fig. 1, which through'a connected pinion I98, within the case, Figs. 16 and 17, can turn the gear I91, which carries the quarter hour cam 46, the latter having a pawl and ratchet connection at I98, with the shaft or arbor I89, of the time clock 44. This mechanism enables the unit to be set to the fractional portions of a quarter hour period and, if it were desired, enables the device to be set'so as to come on to different stations or be shut off half way through, or at some other intermediate points in the broadcast periods.

The various tubes and parts of the radio receiving apparatus, other than the pretuned stationselecting devices and associated preset volume controls have not been illustrated, since these may vary so widely. Ample space for such parts however is present within the case of the unit, as indicated by the single radio tube indicated at 200, in Fig. 9. The entire radio receiver portion of the apparatus, if desired, may bemounted on a chassis of its own or on a single sub-base, so that such apparatus may be assembled and treated as a unit in itself. I Y

. The so-called radio and phonograph .unit represented at 2M, in Figs. 16 and 17, may carry any necessary power transformers, amplifier and speaker mechanisms, as well asv all the phonograph parts.

While diiierent forms of volume controls may be "employed, it is preferred at present to construct theseas shown in Fig.2, ,by winding two lengths of wire about a flat strip of insulation and then coiling the strip and seating it'in a circular recess, where the innerturns oi the wire can be engaged by the oppositely extending brushes 202. with this construction, as particulariy shown in Fig; 16,'the resistance may be entirely out out or cutinup to the iull amount. The magnets may be oi the "ironclad" typetion representing buses, switch fingers shiitable by said keys in the 'diiferent station selecting positions of the same into positions connecting the respective bus bars and different station contacts, different station control circuit means operatively connected with the respective buses and radio station selective means operable independently of control exercised by said time keys, said diiierent station control circuit means including electromagnets and armatures operated thereby and said radio station selective means including manuals arranged to-directly and arbitrarily actuate said armatures independently of the magnets which may normally actuate the same.

3. A program preselector, comprising a time clock, a broadcast period circuit controller operated thereby, a distributor including a, series of successively arranged time contacts and a brush cooperative therewith, means controlled byfssid circuit controller for effecting step-by-step enprovided, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and "I, with a complete metallic casing made up of upper and lower halves 203 and 204, secured in abutting 'ena g ment at the,i'ront and the back by the mounting screws 2".

gagement of said brush with successivetime contacts, a bank of corresponding time keys movable to different station selecting positions, time representing switch elements connected with the respective distributor contacts and provided each with a number of different station contacts, station representing buses, switch fingers shiftable by said keys in the different station selecting positions of the same into positions connecting the respective bus bars and different station con- The pawl and ratchetvv drive by which the record strip is intermittently advanced enables the record strip to remain stationary when the shaft 28 is turned by the setting knob when setting the device to the proper time.

What is claimed is: 1. A program preselector, comprising a time clock, abroadcast period circuit controller oper ated thereby, a distributor including a series of successively arranged time contacts and a brush cooperative therewith, means controlled by said circuit controller for eiiecting step-by-step engagement of said brush with successive time contacts, a bank of corresponding time keys movable.

to different station selecting positions, time representing switch elements connected with the respective distributor contacts and provided each "tacts, different station control circuit means operatively connected'with the respective buses, including pretuned station selecting devices and switches for selectively cutting the same into and out of operative condition, an arbitrarily operable station tuning device and means for automatically returning the latter to a neutral condition upon initiation of automatic station selecting operations.

4. A program preselector, comprising a time clock, a broadcast period circuit controller operated thereby, a distributor including a series of successively arranged time contacts and a brush cooperative therewith, means controlled by said circuit controller for effecting step-by-step engagement of said brush with successive time contacts, a bank of corresponding time keys movable to different station selecting positions, time representing switch elements connected with the respective distributor contacts and provided each with a number of different station contacts, statrary tuning and volume control means to neutral condition upon initiation of automatic station selecting operations.

5. A program preselector, comprising a time clock, a broadcast period circuit controlleroperated thereby, a distributor including a series of successively arranged time contacts and a brush cooperative therewith, means controlled by said circuit controller for effecting step-by-step engagement of said brush with successive time contacts, a bank of corresponding time keys movable to different station selecting positions, time representing switch elements connected with the respective distributor contacts and provided each with a number of diflerent station contacts, station representing buses, switch fingers shiftable by said keys in the different station selecting t. A prog am preselector, comprising a time clock, a bro dcast period circuit controller oper- -ated there successively arranged time contacts and a brush y, a, distributor including a series of cooperative therewith, means controlled by said circuit controller for effecting step-by-step engagement of saidbrush with successive time cnatacts, a bank of corresponding time keys movable to different station selecting positions, time representing switch elements connected with the respective distributor contacts and provided each i with a number of different station contacts, station representing buses, switch fingers shiftable bysaid keys in the different station selecting positions of the same into positions connecting the respective bus bars'and different station contacts, different station tuning control circuit means operatively connected with the respective buses, including electromagnetic circuit closers connected respectively with the station representing buses, manuals for arbitrarily operating said electromagnetic circuit closers and means for limiting operation of said manuals to one a a time.

'7. In combination, a broadcast receiver having separate pretuned station controls and associatec' separate preset volume controls, timing mechanism for selectively rendering the same effective at different preselected times for preselected periods of time and means for arbitrarily rendering any pretuned station selector and volume control effective at any time.

8. In combination, pretuned station selecting devices, a preset volume control associated with each pretuned station selecting device, switches for rendering said station selecting devices, and volume controls effectiv and timing mechanism including means for selectively closing said switches at preselected times and for preselected periods, means for arbitrarily tuning and controlling volume and means automatically operable to return said arbitrarily operable tuning and volume controllin means to an ineffective condition on operation of said timing mechanism.

9. A program preselector, comprising a time clock, broadcast timing means operated by said time clock, a distributor including successively arranged time contacts 'and a brush successively cooperative therewith, time representing switch elements connected with the corresponding time contacts of said distributor, station representing buses, time keys corresponding to the different broadcast time periods and movable to effect connection of the corresponding time representing switch elements with different selected station representing buses, different station control circuit means operatively connected with the respective buses, including pretuned station selecting devices and a preset volume control associated with each pretuned station selecting device and electromagnetic means for rendering preselected, pretuned station selecting devices and associated preset volume controls effective at times selected by said time keys, aid electromagnetic means including electromagnets and armatures operated thereby and manuals for effecting arbitrary actuation of said armatures independently of the control exercised by said timing means and distributor.

FREEMAN H. OWENS. 

